Lace buckle

ABSTRACT

A structure of a lace buckle is disclosed. The lace buckle comprises a case having a pair of projected blocks at a base., an upper lid, attached to one slide of the case through and attachment part, which can be flipped through 180° to engageably coupling onto the case, wherein two oblique elastic slip lock arms extend vertically from a inner surface from a central region of the upper lid, projecting inwardly into the case. The two elastic slip lock arms will resiliently press against a lace from the top, while the two projected blocks of the case press against the lace from the bottom side, thus the lace is prevented from dislodging from the case, and remain secured in position. Thus the two ends of the lace can be secured in between two elastic slip lock arms of the upper lid and the two projected blocks of the case.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a lace buckle, and moreparticularly to a lace buckle with a capability of firmly fastening in afix position or releasing two ends of a lace, and resisting from pulledout by force.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] The use of lace or rope in our every day life is common, in thata lace may be used for tying shoes, tying bags and in garments. Mostcommonly, a lace used in shoes may be passed through holes of the shoesand ultimately the two ends of the lace are tied to form a slipknot soas to fasten lace in position. However, for example, after a long-hoursof usage, the slipknot may become loose and gets untied, as a result theshoes may come off or even at times the person with loose shoes may falland sprain ankle due to losing of balance.

[0005] A conventional lace buckle has been developed to overcome theabove problems. A conventional lace buckle is shown in FIG. 7. The lacebuckle comprises a buckle base A, a fastening portion A2, a channel A1located on a side wall of the buckle base A, and a rotary plug Brotatably disposed into a central hollow opening which passes from a topto a bottom of the buckle base A and traverses through the channel A1.The lace is passed through the channel A1 in between the rotary plug Band the internal sidewall of the buckle base A. Then, the lace is pulleduntil a desired distance, the lace will remain fastened in thatposition. As the lace is being pulled, and since the rotary plug B isfree to rotate within the central hollow opening of the buckle base A,will rotate as the lace passes through the channel A1 in between therotary plug B and the internal sidewall of the buckle base A, thusmaking the frictional force between the rotary plug B and the sidewallof the buckle base A as less as possible. Therefore, the action oftightening the lace can be done promptly without much effort and becauseof less frictional force is applied during the tightening, therefore thelife of the lace can be extended. However, there are drawbacks fromusing the above-mentioned conventional buckle, in that since the rotaryplug B is free to rotate within the central hollow opening of the bucklebase A cannot efficiently secure the lace into position, and in order tosecure in position, one need to tie a slipknot. Referring to FIG. 8,shows another conventional buckle comprising a buckle case C having abase C1 attached on the buckle case C, and an operative rod D insertedin a hollow hole from a top of the base C, secured by torsional springE, and a projected turning handle F1 having a gear like surface F1operatively mounted on the base C1 of the buckle case C. The projectedturning handle F1 is positioned as a preset angle, such that a lace canbe passed through a gap between the gear like surface F2 of theprojected turning handle F1 and an internal sidewall of the base C1 inthe through channel C2, wherein the dimension of the gap is designed tobe smaller than a diameter of the lace when the projected turning handleF is positioned in the preset angle, thus the lace can be secured inposition between the gear like surface F2 of the projected turninghandle F1 and the internal wall of the base C1 of the buckle case C inthe through channel C2. To slip the lace out off case C, the projectedturning handle F1 turned to increase the dimension of the gap in whichthe lace was secured. However, still there are drawbacks in theabove-mentioned conventional buckle although it can more securelyposition the lace, buckle assembly required three major elements, thusthe cost of manufacturing assembly parts and their material are higher.Therefore, a new lace buckle for overcoming the problems of the priorart, such as securing the lace in position as well as reducemanufacturing cost for make the lace buckle is highly desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Accordingly, in the view of the foregoing, the present inventormakes a detailed study of related art to evaluate and consider, and usesyears of accumulated experience in this field, and through severalexperiments, to create a new lace buckle of the present invention. Thepresent invention provides an innovated cost effective lace buckle forfirmly fastening or releasing two ends of a lace, which can effectivelyprevent the two ends of the lace from being pulled out by force.

[0007] In order achieve the above objects and other objects of thepresent invention, a lace buckle is provided. The lace buckle comprisesa case having a pair of projected blocks at a base, and an upper lid,attached to one slide of the case through and attachment part, which canbe flipped through 180° to engageably coupling onto the case, whereintwo oblique elastic slip lock arms extend vertically from a innersurface along a central region of the upper lid, projecting inwardlyinto the case. When the upper lid is flipped through 180°, the upper lidwill engageably couple with the case through a coupling means, and thetwo elastic slip lock arms will resiliently press against a lace fromthe top, while the two projected blocks of the case press against thelace from the bottom side, thus the lace is prevented from dislodgingfrom the case, and remain secured in position. Thus the two ends of thelace can be secured in between the two elastic slip lock arms of theupper lid and the two projected blocks of the case.

[0008] According to an aspect of the present invention, the upper lid isflipped through 180° to engageably couple onto the case, in doing so,the upper lid will engageably couple with the case through a couplingmeans, and the two elastic slip lock arms will resiliently press againsta lace from the top, while the two projected blocks of the case pressagainst the lace from the bottom side, thus the lace is prevented fromdislodging from the case, and remain secured in position. The buckle ofthe present invention is easy to operate, the lace can be securedaccurately and can be suitably applied for securing a variety of laces.

[0009] According to another aspect of the present invention the end partof the two oblique elastic slip lock arms comprising a gear-likestructures at a distal end part of each elastic slip lock arms areprojected inwardly from the inner surface of the upper into the case,and face each other, and wherein the gear-like structures face away fromthe lace insertion hole. In other words, the gear-like structure of theoblique arms face the central region of the case, and face to eachother. Thus the elastic slip lock arms together with the blocks of thecase can effectively lock the lace and prevent from pulling out, thusthe lace is prevented from coming loose from the through hole.

[0010] According to another aspect of the present invention, a hollowcase with an open top and to one of its side, an upper lid is attachedthrough an attachment part, as an integral piece. Thus, this designallows the manufacture of both the case and the upper lid by using, forexample, a molding process in one step. Thus, the manufacture cost canbe substantially reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a buckle showing before coveringthe upper lid onto case of buckle according to the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a buckle showing after coveringthe upper lid onto case of buckle according to the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the buckle showing after coveringthe upper lid onto case of the buckle according to the presentinvention;

[0014]FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the buckle taken along another side,showing after covering the upper lid onto case of the buckle accordingto the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 5 is an elevational view showing after a lace is securedwithin the case of the buckle according to the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing after a lace is secured withinthe case of the buckle according to the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a conventional buckle; and

[0018]FIG. 8 is an exploded view of another conventional buckle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Reference will be made in detail to the preferred embodiments ofthe invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in thedrawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, show embodiments of the buckle,the lace buckle of the present invention comprises a hollow case 1comprising an open top with one side of the open top attached to anupper lid 2 through a attachment part 3. The case 1 comprises a throughhole 11 on two sides walls of the case 1, wherein said side walls arelocated opposite each other, a plurality of groove 111 is formed on onevertical side of the through hole 11 of case 1, a plurality of slip lockgroove 1111 disposed on a vertical inner sidewall of the case 1, twoprojected blocks 112 disposed on a bottom inner surface of the case 1,and a U-shaped element 12 attached to one of the external side of thecase 1, for supporting and securing the buckle in position.

[0021] One side upper lid 2 is attached to the case 1 through anattachment part 3, and on the other side, a plurality of slip lockelements 21, extending vertically from an inner surface along aperimeter of the upper lid 2, wherein each of the slip lock elements 21comprises a slot 211. At a lateral central region of the upper lid 2,two oblique elastic slip lock arms 22 are extend vertically from aninner surface of the upper lid 2, and each distal end part of theelastic slip lock arm 22 have a gear-like structure 222, wherein thegear-like structure 222 of each of the elastic slip lock arms 22 faceeach other. The upper lid 2 is flipped over the case 1, and the slots211 of the slip lock elements 21 of the upper lid 2 are engaged with thecorresponding slip lock grooves 1111 of the case 1 to secure the upperlid 2 on to the case 1.

[0022] Referring to FIGS. 1, 3, 5 and 6, show two ends of a lace 4 aresecured inside the case 1 of the lace buckle of the present inventionenter the case 1. The two ends of the lace 4 are inserted through thethrough hole 11 of the case 1, wherein each end is passed through eachend of the through hole 11. Next, the upper lid 2 is flipped over thecase 1 by bending the upper lid 2 through 180° and the slip lockelements 21 of the upper lid 2 are engaged with the corresponding sliplock grooves 1111 of the case 1 to secure the upper lid 2 on to the case1, as a result, the lace 4 is securely engaged in a gap between thegear-like structure 222 of the elastic slip lock arm 22 and theprojected block 112 of the case 1, wherein the gear-like structure 222of the elastic slip lock arms 22 are disposed resiliently against thelace 4, and the projected blocks 112 against the lace 4 from the bottomside and pressing against the lace 4 in position. Further more, aknitted belt 5 is securely fastened with the U-shaped element 12 of thecase 1 for the lace buckle onto, for example, a surface of a shoe, agarment, a bag and the like.

[0023] According to an aspect of the present invention, by merely theupper lid 2 is flipped over the case 1 by bending the upper lid 2through 180°, and engaging the slip lock hooks 211 of the upper lid 2with the slip lock grooves 1111 of the case 1, the upper lid 2 issecured on to the case 1, as a result, the lace 4 is securely engaged ina gap between the gear-like structure 222 of the elastic slip lock arms22 and the projected block 112 of the case 1, wherein the gear-likestructure 222 of the elastic slip lock arms 22 are disposed resilientlyagainst the lace 4, and the projected blocks 112 against the lace 4 fromthe bottom side and pressing against the lace 4 in position. Thus, thisarrangement will effectively prevent the lace 4 pulling off from thecase 1 once the lace 4 is secured in position as described above.

[0024] According to another aspect of the present invention, the lacebuckle assembly, i. e. both the case 1 and the lid 2, can bemanufactured using a plastic through a simple molding process, as oneintegral piece. Further, because all of the assembly parts of the buckleof the present invention can be manufactured by a single moldingprocess, as one integral piece, and requires no additional parts oraccessories in order to practice the invention, therefore the process,and use of the buckle is more simplified and cost effective. Although itshould understood that the case and the upper lid can be two differentcomponents and may also used to practice the present invention.

[0025] While the invention has been described in conjunction with aspecific best mode, it is to be understood that many alternatives,modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in theart in light of the a foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intendedto embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations whichfall within the spirit and scope of the included claims. All matters setforth herein or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpretedin an illustrative and non-limiting sense.

What the claimed is:
 1. A lace buckle for shoes, bags, and garments, for securing a lace, comprising: a hollow case, having an open top, a side hole on two side wall of the case, wherein said two side wall are located opposite to each other; two distal ends of a lace inserted into two side holes of the case; and an upper lid, integrally attached to one side of the open top, comprising two oblique elastic slip lock arms extending vertically from a inner surface of the upper lid, wherein said elastic slip lock arms face each other, and face a central vertical plane of the case, flipped through 180° to engageably couple with the case through a coupling means, wherein each of said elastic slip lock arms presses resiliently against each of said lace from a top side for securing said lace in position.
 2. The lace buckle according to claim 1, wherein the case further comprises at least two projected blocks projecting from a bottom inner side, wherein said projected blocks are positioned alternate to said elastic slip lock arms in conjunction with said elastic slip lock arms secure the lace.
 3. The lace buckle according to claim 1, wherein each distal part of said two elastic slip lock arms further comprises a gear-like structure, preventing said lace from being slipped off or pulled out of the case.
 4. The lace buckle according to claim 1, wherein the shape of said gear-like structure of each of said elastic slip lock arms is a thorny-wheel shape.
 5. The lace buckle according to claim 1, wherein the upper lid comprises a plurality of slip lock elements extending vertically from along a perimeter of the upper lid on a side, and in a central region of each slip lock element comprises a slot for engaging with case.
 6. The lace buckle according to claim 5, wherein a hook is disposed on the vertical side wall of the case at a position corresponding to each of said slip lock element of the upper lid, for engageably coupling with the slip lock elements of the upper lid.
 7. The lace buckle according to claim 1, wherein the case further comprises a U-shaped element disposed on a outer surface of the case for securing the case in position.
 8. The lace buckle according to claim 7, wherein U-shaped element is secured to a surface of a substrate through knitted belt. 